When the Stuttgart Police Department was made aware of the fact that Arkansas County ranks as one of the highest in drivers not wearing seat belts, the “Click or Ticket” campaign became a priority. The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office recently visited Stuttgart Police Department Assistant Chief Steven Bobo to deliver the news.

“That enlightened me,” he explained.

The information comes from surveys taken throughout the state from officers counting 100 cars in a row and marking down seat belt use — not handing out tickets — then going back exactly a week later in the same area and doing the survey yet again. Pickup truck drivers are the highest non-wearers in Stuttgart, according to Bobo.

This weekend, SPD has plans in place to step up enforcement of not only seat belt use but also drinking alcohol and driving.

“We plan on having some road blocks this weekend. We are going to pick two to three places and work those,” he said in conjunction with the long Memorial Day weekend.

“It is just the simple fact that this area being one of the worst, we have to do something about it,” he said.

In Arkansas County Northern District Court, a seat belt ticket carries a $70 fine.

Deaths involving individuals not wearing seat belts are more prevalent at night than during daylight hours.

During the 2011 reporting period, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed during the overnight hours — 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. — were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the motor vehicle crashes.

Crash investigation reports from 2011 document the same trend in Arkansas, indicating a 64 percent increase in nighttime fatalities among those not wearing seat belts compared to 48 percent during daylight hours.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of a crash is even greater,” Col. Stan Witt, director of the Arkansas State Police, said. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists, clicking the seat belt.”

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide, according to NHTSA. While this year’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2, officers are enforcing seat belt laws year round.